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recessed lighting WIRING

im not asking for a whole job instruction..... i have experience with wiring.....i need to know what is wraped in an electrical cable....also i know it is part of an AC currents.

I am so very confused. How do you have experience with wiring, yet you do not know what an electrical cable looks like inside. What have you used to "wire" before? Anyway, there are a lot of different types of electrical cable. Some will include 2 wrapped wires and ground. Some will contain 2 wires no ground, some will have grounds, some will have 3 wires, some will have all wires individually wrapped, others will just have one wrapped.....

If you aren't familiar with these things, I think the best thing you can do is get yourself a good starter book. The black and decker one is great - I think its like, "the complete guide to wiring" or something.

recessed lighting WIRING

I persoanlly think you have some preconceived notions about home wiring.
Marc's comments were completely justified.

I think a couple of good books on home wiring would be a great asset to you. Forget what you think you know and start from scratch.

__________________
Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.
Answers based on the 2008 & 2011 NEC.

recessed lighting WIRING

I persoanlly think you have some preconceived notions about home wiring.
Marc's comments were completely justified.

I think a couple of good books on home wiring would be a great asset to you. Forget what you think you know and start from scratch.

maybe i haven't made myself clear. i know what i know. i don't assume anything. and if marc can't anwer a question it is not my disposition. this is a DIY site not a site for experts to throw around unusful and critical comments.

recessed lighting WIRING

You see, Tj, what caused the alarm to sound here is that you've asked a bizare question - " what the inside of a basic electrical cable looks like". My answer to this would be - "Tell me what a basic electrical cable IS and I'll tell you". I think the people in here are more willing to help you than you might think. But we do need to address some concerns before we offer advice which may ultimately become dangerous.

I'm just not sure that you can call anything basic cable. I mean, I GUESS than a 2 wire romex cable, 14-2, with a ground would be a common and hence, basic cable, but if you consider any spot in house where there would be cable run, you've got ABSOLUTELY no reason to assume that that is what's there. It might be a 3 wire cable + ground. Perhaps its a 2 wire and the white wire is used as a hot.... Perhaps its 12 gauge, maybe its not even copper

You haven't told us the age of your house - you may have aluminum or hell, you might have knob and tube!!

Electricity is a world of variables and the danger of killing yourself or others exists as well as the possibilty of burning down a house or two. Hence all the concern everytime someone asks a strangley-phrased question.

I think the best thing for you to do would be to reassess your situation and ask a very detailed and insightful question. My point earlier was this - If you have to ask what the inside of a cable looks like, you've probably never wired anything. If you've never wired anything, you definitely need to do as suggested by others, and get a good book. The black and decker guide to home wiring is great!

The folks in here aren't trying to give you a hard time, but imagine if someone performing surgery on your spouse turns to the nurse and says, "now what exactly does the liver look like?"

recessed lighting WIRING

I'll second that. No experience with "Emerald" but "Commercial Electric" gets my vote for real garbage. I am not a big fan of "Halo" either. For my choice, it's pretty hard to beat Lightolier, well worth the few bucks extra.

As to the original post by TJ; there are a lot of variables here... define "several" cans (you could easily add 600 to 1000 watts to the existing circuit which may very well be close to maxed out already), Since you have access to an attic, is there any way to run a new circuit from the panel? I would consider hiring an electrician if you are not a reasonably accomplished diy as this is also going to involve fishing wires down a wall for the switch. I have seen the costs of the wall repairs alone make it worth paying an experienced electrician.

And go with the 1000w dimmer if you have more than four cans on it. You may be planning to put only 75w bulbs in, but remember that many of the full size can will handle up to 150w bulbs.

recessed lighting WIRING

I'll second that. No experience with "Emerald" but "Commercial Electric" also gets my vote for trash. Not a big fan of "Halo" either. For my dollar, I use Lightolier whenever possible.

As to the original post by TJ, sounds like a lot of variables here. First define "several" cans. You could easily add 600 to 1000 watts to an existing circuit with recessed cans. I would think about paying an electrician here, as it sounds like you don't have much experience with electrical diy. Since you have attic access, is it possible to run a new circuit to the panel? Since this not only involves attic work, but also fishing a switch leg through a wall, I have seen the cost of the sheetrock repairs alone make it worth the costs of an experienced person.

Go with the 1000w dimmer if there is more than 5 cans on the circuit. Many of the full size cans can take 150w bulbs. Although I don't know why anyone would want 150's, I have had customers insist on them.Of course the utility company loves them . First you pay to power the oversized lights, then you pay for the ac to remove the huge amount of heat they put out.

recessed lighting WIRING

I'll second that. No experience with "Emerald" but "Commercial Electric" also gets my vote for trash. Not a big fan of "Halo" either. For my dollar, I use Lightolier whenever possible.

As to the original post by TJ, sounds like a lot of variables here. First define "several" cans. You could easily add 600 to 1000 watts to an existing circuit with recessed cans. I would think about paying an electrician here, as it sounds like you don't have much experience with electrical diy. Since you have attic access, is it possible to run a new circuit to the panel? Since this not only involves attic work, but also fishing a switch leg through a wall, I have seen the cost of the sheetrock repairs alone make it worth the costs of an experienced person.

Go with the 1000w dimmer if there is more than 5 cans on the circuit. Many of the full size cans can take 150w bulbs. Although I don't know why anyone would want 150's, I have had customers insist on them.Of course the utility company loves them . First you pay to power the oversized lights, then you pay for the ac to remove the huge amount of heat they put out.

recessed lighting WIRING

Quote:

Originally Posted by J187

Looks like you REALLY DID second it, eh

Guess it was just "in the cards" for a double post. When it double posted I tried to delete one, but they both were deleted, So I retyped the reply and posted it again, Obviously it double posted again. Must have been a good reply.

recessed lighting WIRING

Quote:

Originally Posted by tj home

i am preparing to install several recessed lights in the ceiling of a small room with attack access to the other side of the ceiling. installing the actual lights will not be a problem
WHERE AND WHAT DO I CONNECT THE LIGHT'S POWER LINES TO.
i know there is the factor of overloading a cercuit, i just don't know how to wire the lights and the dimmer switch i wish to install as well.